This wasn't an NFL game of competitive parity. Nor was this close to an AFC West tussle between the Broncos and their rivals, the Oakland Raiders. This was Peyton Manning having fun in the swampy fields of New Orleans, teasing all his no-hope hometown chums in a game of two-hand touch. Ha! Ha!

Better yet, this was Manning at practice at Dove Valley, his most comfortable setting, picking apart his teammates in a 7-on-7 passing drill.

Adding to his historic start, Manning led the Broncos to a 37-21 whipping of the Oakland Raiders on Monday night at Sports Authority Field. Manning was an absurd 32-of-37 — all five incompletions hit the intended receiver in the hands — for 374 yards and three touchdowns.

The Broncos' quarterback is making it look ridiculously easy three games into the 2013 season. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 12 touchdown passes through the first three games. And Manning had his passing dozen by halftime of Game 3.

"I can't say that," Manning said, adding it's too early in the year to compare 2013 to any other in his 16-year career.

"I think he's started up where he left off last year, improved on that," Broncos coach John Fox said. "We've added some weapons, personnel-wise, that we brought in that have helped us. He's an incredible player as far as the way he prepares and communicates things to his team."

Manning moved the Broncos to leads of 17-0 early in the second quarter, and 30-7 early in the second half.

With two minutes left in the first half, Manning was 18-of-20 for 229 yards and three touchdown passes. You couldn't call him perfect, as Knowshon Moreno and Virgil Green dropped the ball on his two incompletions.

Julius Thomas, middle, celebrates with Broncos guard Zane Beadles and tackle Chris Clark in the second quarter against the Raiders. More photos. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Manning lead the Broncos to their franchise record-tying 14th consecutive regular-season victory. The first 11 in the streak were the last 11 games of the 2012 season. The only other 14-game winning streak by the Broncos occurred during the 1997-98 season. There was a Super Bowl championship trophy between that run. There was a devastating playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the midst of the Broncos' current 14-game winning streak.

Then again, this run isn't finished. The Philadelphia Eagles are next up on the Broncos' schedule.

Keep telling yourself, Indianapolis Colts, that you made the correct decision nearly two years ago in letting Manning go in exchange for the promising Andrew Luck. Is it possible for any NFL future to be better than Peyton Manning in the present?

The Broncos played their first game without all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady, the team's second-highest-paid player. He is done for the season with a left foot injury and recently underwent surgery. Chris Clark played well until late in the third quarter when he was beaten by Raiders and former Colorado Springs Doherty High School star Lamarr Houston for a sack and fumble.

But by then, Manning had created plenty of room for error.

"He's a special player, one of the best to ever play, so you expect that from him," said Broncos' defensive end Shaun Phillips. "But to get where we want to go, it has to be about the defense. Peyton is going to do his job. In order to be a great defense, you have to slam the door on teams."

The Broncos played their third game without Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller, their most dynamic defensive player, and cornerback Champ Bailey, a Pro Bowler times 12. Miller is halfway through serving a six-game suspension that is fast becoming an overhyped, inconsequential setback. Bailey has been out all season with a left foot injury but could return Sunday.

Whatever. It could be Manning & The Misfits, and Manning's team would dominate.

The Raiders have their own talented young quarterback, although Terrelle Pryor plays with a reactive style while Manning takes proactive command.

Manning dinked when the Raiders fell back. He worked the left if the Raiders leaned right. He ordered the plays snapped quickly if the Raiders were back on their heels. He ran the clock if he felt his receivers or blockers needed to catch their breath.

The Raiders' heads were spinning.

Broncos receiver Eric Decker had a bout with the drops in the first two games. So Manning fed him three catches, including a touchdown, on the first possession.

Manning showed patience, mixing in runs by Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball, with the occasional short pass.

As the Raiders' defense crowded the box, Manning popped a pass downfield to Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker or Decker.

It was all in the setup. Manning seemed to toy with the Raiders' defense. It was when the Broncos reached the red zone that Manning had his receivers set up for wide-open touchdown catches. Decker was all alone on the first scoring pass. Welker was even more open on the second. Julius Thomas was open and had to skip past a flailing, would-be Raider tackler before walking in with the third TD pass.

It was 27-7 Broncos at the half, though Pryor was a challenge for Denver's defense. He kept the ball on an option read and gained 23 yards. He hung in the pocket on a third-and-3 play in the second quarter and delivered a strike across the middle to Denarius Moore. When cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie inadvertently knocked safety Duke Ihenacho off the play, Moore took off for a 73-yard touchdown play, making it 17-7.

On the next play from scrimmage, Manning hit Decker for a 61-yard catch-and-run to set up the touchdown to Julius Thomas. It was as if Manning said to Pryor: Nice play, kid. Is that all you got?

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